Johnson, Larson Add to Campaign Accounts
WASHINGTON- Political action committee contributions to Nancy Johnson (R-5) totaled more than $600,000 last year, putting her behind only Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert (R-Il) and Ways and Means Committee chairman Bill Thomas (R-CA) as the House member with the most PAC contributions, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
Johnson, chairwoman of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, received most of her campaign money from health insurance companies and private physicians, according to Federal Election Commission reports.
Because of her committee post, “it’s not surprising she is attracting a lot of PAC money,”
said Sheila Krumholz, research director at the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan organization that monitors campaign finances.
Reports released last month show Johnson raised just over $1 million in her campaign fund in 2003, including $200,000 in the last quarter of the year. As the new year began, she had: cash on hand of $897,432.
Johnson’s $1,012,614 in contributions to date, Krumholz said, was “a standout figure,” especially with eight months remaining to raise money before the November election.
Johnson is running for re-election for the 12 th time. She won in 2002 with 54 percent of the vote, running against Democratic congressman James Maloney in the re-districted Fifth District.
“She’s had tough races before and is a fairly popular representative, so it’s not surprising” that she might want to build up her campaign war chest “to ward off serious challengers,” Krumholz said.
Johnson faces two Democratic challengers this time: Paul Vance Jr., president of the Waterbury Board of Aldermen, and Robert L. Marconi, the Connecticut assistant attorney general. Both said they have not yet raised the $5,000 necessary before filing an FEC report. Marconi said he will formally announce his intent to run next month. In the meantime, he plans to meet with Connecticut Democratic town committees to get his name on the political radar.
“It’s incredibly difficult to start raising money if nobody knows who you are,” Marconi said.
Republicans running for re-election this year have raised on average of $469,741, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
Of Johnson’s total contributions, 64 percent came from PACs, and 94.5 percent of the PAC donations came from businesses, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
Krumholz said of Johnson’s PAC money, “It’s more than the average candidate has raised in any kind of contributions. That’s definitely a hefty figure at this point in the cycle.”
Brian Schubert, Johnson’s press secretary, called the PAC donors a “broad coalition.” They gave to Johnson because they support her agenda, Schubert said.
Rep. John Larson (D-1) raised $37,491 in the latest filing period, bringing his total receipts to $151,860. As 2004 began, he had $128,955 in cash on hand. A variety of donors contributed, including attorneys and manufacturing companies. The American Postal Workers Union gave $5,000. Larson is running for his 4 th term after winning 67 percent of the vote in 2002.
Through Dec. 31, 55 percent of Larson’s contributions came from individuals and 43 percent came from PACs, according to the Center for Responsive Politics
John Halstead of Wethersfield recently announced his candidacy against Larson, but so far has reported no activity to the FEC.
Sen. Joseph Lieberman, (D-Conn.) contributed $1,000 to Larson in 2002 through his Responsibility/Opportunity/Community PAC, but so far no contributions from that PAC have been reported for the 2004 election.
